Top 3 National Parks That Have My Heart
Are you having a hard time deciding which National Parks to check off your list this year? In this post, I’ll list my top three National Parks that I’ve visited so far and why they are my favorite!
#1 Zion
After visiting Zion you can say you’ve been in a real life Jurassic Park film…minus the dinosaurs. The cottonwood trees spread through the park and stretch tall to touch the sun. The never-ending views of these sandstone mountains is truly awakening. Zion is home to the most dangerous hike in the United States, Angel’s Landing, that now requires a permit to hike.
Jumping for joy on our way to the Emerald Pools in Zion National Park!
If you are looking for unique experience, The Narrows is a more strenuous option at Zion that is on a lot of people’s bucket lists! We loved hiking up the West Rim Trail and conquering the famous Walter’s Wiggles. We visited Zion the first week in April and had perfect 70-degree weather. During this time we utilized their shuttle system that’s open daily from mid-March to January. For a more detailed day in Zion, head over to this post!
#2 Glacier
When in Glacier, Going-to-the-Sun Road is an experience like no other that everyone should have. This 50-mile drive has narrow curves that age back to 1933 when it was built and an elevation gain of 6,500 feet. I swear the views get more and more beautiful the higher up you go.
One thing to note is that wildlife in Glacier is fairly active, specifically grizzly bears. This was the National Park where I saw my first grizzly bear and her two cubs! Due to this being a populated place for grizzlies, it’s common to see trails closed when any activity is reported.
A hike that I recommend doing would be the Highline Trail located next to Logan Pass Visitor Center. This hike round-trip is about 12 miles however, we chose to do two miles in and back. Even though we cut the hike short, it was an experience to say the least. The wind was no joke so I was thankful they had bolted garden-hose rails for this “one-way” hike.
#3 Yellowstone
Some may be surprised that Yellowstone is not #1 being that it’s the top National Park in the U.S. but I have my reasons. Yellowstone for starters is HUGE. I didn’t realize just how vast the park was until we were deep into the 2+ million acres of land.
One thing I loved most about being in Yellowstone was how diverse the land was. First you drive past mud pots, geysers, and lakes then next thing you know you’re looking at a beautiful valley of Bison, and next a water fall.
North Entrance into Yellowstone!
We spent a total of two days in Yellowstone and got to see all the “big-ticket” spots like Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, and the Upper and Lower Falls. It’s on my list to revisit because I don’t think there’s ever enough time to really see all of Yellowstone.
There you have it – the top 3 National Parks that have my heart!
